The Chicago Bears will enter this year’s NFL Draft with four picks in the first four rounds despite trading their third-rounder to the San Francisco 49ers in the franchise-changing deal for QB Mitchell Trubisky last April.

They added an extra fourth-round pick after trading down in the second round with the Cardinals.

The Bears are in much better shape heading into the offseason than last they were a year ago. They have a franchise quarterback, a new and innovative coaching staff and stability in the front office.

Round 1: Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama

If Calvin Ridley is the pick, expect Bears fans to be luke-warm, at best, with another receiver as a first-rounder in the Ryan Pace regime. But that would be a mistake.

Ridley is exactly what Chicago needs on offense. He’s a skilled route-runner with the speed to make plays downfield. Pairing him with Trubisky and the Bears’ already established running game will round out the young and developing offense.

Expect Ridley to rise up the ranks as the draft inches closer. By the time April rolls around, a top-10 pick will be fair value for the Alabama playmaker.

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